'Rashtrapatni' Remark Row: FIR Against Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury In MP After BJP Workers' Complaint

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's recent remark in reference to India's first tribal President as 'rashtrapatni' has drawn a high octane face-off between BJP and the Congress.

Congress Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. (File Photo/ PTI)

Amid the ongoing controversy over Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's remarks against President Droupadi Murmu, Madhya Pradesh Police on Thursday lodged an FIR against the Congress leader after a complaint letter was presented by workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. According to reports, Chowdhury has been booked for making "insulting remarks" towards President Murmu. 

The FIR against Chowdhury has been lodged under Indian Penal Court (IPC) sections 153B and 505(2) and will be sent to Delhi, news agency ANI quoted Jagannath Markam, ASP, Dindori as saying. 

Madhya Pradesh | A complaint letter was presented by BJP workers against Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for making insulting remarks towards President Droupadi Murmu. FIR filed in the matter under IPC sec 153B, 505(2) & being sent to Delhi: Jagannath Markam, ASP, Dindori pic.twitter.com/hZpN9cGDZq

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) July 28, 2022

The development comes hour after National Commission for Women issued notice to Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to appear before it in person and tender a written explanation for calling President Droupadi Murmu 'rashtrapatni'.

The NCW and 13 state commissions for women issued a joint statement, saying Chowdhury's remark was "deeply insulting, sexist and constitute an attempt to humiliate the Hon'ble President".

Chowdhury's recent remark in reference to India's first tribal President as 'rashtrapatni' has drawn a high octane face-off between BJP and the Congress, resulting in massive protests by both the national parties.

While, the BJP has demanded an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress, on the other hand, has sought an apology from Union Minister Smriti Irani for dragging President of the grand old party into the matter.

In his defence, Chowdhury, who is the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, said he never intended to disrespect the President of India and his 'rashtrapatni' remark was a "slip of the tongue". He also agreed to apologise to President Murmu and accused BJP of making a "mountain out of a molehill" over the issue.

Furthermore, Chowdhury also said that he has sought time from the President the day after tomorrow and will apologise to her if she has been offended by his inadvertent comments.

Meanwhile, ruling BJP on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Congress with Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Smriti Irani alleging that Chowdhury used the term knowing well that it demeans Murmu and her office and is against India's values.

Both inside and outside Parliament, BJP even fielded six of its tribal leaders, including three Union ministers - Kiren Rijiju, Sarbananda Sonowal and Bharati Pawar, to attack the Congress over the issue.